I’m doing my best to give the LG Spectrum a fair shot, but the pluses are struggling to keep up with the minuses to this point. One thing I do have to give it some love for though, is the fact that it streams HD video through ESPN’s ScoreCenter app. Actually, it’s tough to tell if it actually streams through the app or not. When you press on a video, a separate browser window loads that then asks if you would like to download or “execute” an action – that action is of course, the watching of HD video.

So below, I have embedded a video that shows off the high quality streams that only this phone is currently capable of. Talk about impressive for a mobile stream.  

And just like the HTC Rezound, the LG Spectrum has an update on the way. It’s as minor as it gets and will simply fix Netflix playback. Yep, that’s it. We will have a full review of the device up within the next week or so, but you can view our early unboxing here.

More info.

Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Thanks to a community friend, we now have the full system dump from the LG Spectrum if anyone is interested in poking around in it. He even pulled out the apps and media separately, since those tend to be the most requested files from a new phone. And yes, the HD ESPN ScoreCenter app is included, although it’s technically a step back from today’s update since it does not have the new notification service.

Downloads:  Apps and Media | System Dump

Cheers CG!

Our brief moment with the LG Spectrum at CES 2012 was exactly that, brief. In order to give this new release from LG and Verizon a shot at taking top Android phone honors from the Galaxy Nexus, we had to get one in hand for an extended period of time. Today marks the start of our quest to put the Spectrum through the ringer to decide if this reasonably priced ($199 on contract), yet highly spec’d phone is worth your money. With a 4.5″ HD display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 8MP shooter, and 4G LTE connectivity, this phone is by no means a slouch on the hardware front. Does it have enough polish on the UI side to make it a winner though? We will soon find out.

For now, let’s see what it looks like in hand and out of the box.  

The LG Spectrum officially launched yesterday on Verizon for $199. The first commercial for it officially launched this morning, although we can’t stop scratching our heads over it. While the spot itself is actually worth a laugh, the fact that R2-D2 makes a cameo is simply odd (at first). After all, the Spectrum is not “DROID” branded and R2 comes straight out of Star Wars and and the mind of George Lucas where the word “DROID” is currently being licensed from.

In the end though, it’s obvious that Phantom Menace in 3D needed another plug and what better way to do that than through the wireless carrier Lucas is in bed friends with.  

Today is the day for potential LG Spectrum owners. If you are looking for one of the best HD screens in the mobile business, a powerful 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 8MP shooter, and 4G LTE, then this may be your next phone at the reasonable price of $199 on new 2-year contract ($599 off). It is available this very minute online and in VZW stores across the nation.

Be sure to check out our hands-on with the Spectrum from CES.

Both the DROID 4 and LG Spectrum that were announced this week at CES have global radios inside, but because of a network issue, they are not active. To this point, none of Verizon’s LTE phones have active global roaming, however, that is about to change according to VZW spokesperson Brenda Raney:

 ”The LTE phones work globally in over 40 countries that currently use CDMA technology…. For the new LTE phones to provide global roaming voice and data in non-CDMA countries, we are working on a few network enhancements so we can provide customers with the best voice and data roaming experience. We anticipate this capability to be available this year, likely the first half of the year.”

You can see our first looks at the devices here and here.

Via:  Phonescoop

Cheers Tim!

Before day 2 (well, day 1 of the open show floor) ended, we had a chance to sneak into the Verizon booth and grab a quick hands-on with LG’s latest device, the Spectrum. This phone is headed to store shelves on January 19 for $199, has a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 8MP camera, LTE connectivity, and most notably, a 4.5″ True HD IPS display. The Spectrum is a great effort at a comfortable price from LG, a company that had what we would consider a rough 2011 in the Android game here in the U.S. This could be the device that helps them turn things around.